Tweet
2023 NFL Draft QB Prospects: Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud set to battle for QB1 all year
Written By Cam Mellor
December 31, 2021
It's a great time to be a QB-needy NFL team as the 2023 NFL Draft quarterback prospects are plentiful, led by Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud.
After multiple years of loaded quarterback classes, the NFL Draft will take a step back in 2022. However, for NFL teams needing a new franchise signal-caller in the near future, the 2023 NFL Draft quarterback prospects are next-level. It’s an elite group of characters. Let’s run down the top players — in tiers — as the 2021-22 season comes to a close.
Top 2023 NFL Draft QB prospects
The projected top two picks in the 2023 NFL Draft will likely come from the quarterback position. In fact, there could even be three quarterbacks taken in the first three picks if a certain someone lives up to the hype. Here are the top 2023 NFL Draft QBs, broken out into specific tiers.
Tier 1: The top two
Two of the top three players on the 2023 NFL Draft big board should be quarterbacks. Not because of how QB-needy the sport has become, but because of their overall abilities. Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud should battle it out for the Heisman Trophy (again), a National Championship, and eventually the No. 1 overall pick if all goes to plan.
Bryce Young, Alabama
There isn’t much more to say about Young that hasn’t already been stated. So, if this is repetitive, I apologize. His ability to stand tall in the face of pressure is uncanny. Young’s arm is next-level, and he trusts it with precision and poise.
What separates Young from the rest of the class is his ability to find and elevate his already incredibly talented group of players.
Sure, Jameson Williams had more plays of 50+ yards than anyone else in college football, but Young was the one to find him quickly and accurately. He finds every level of the field with ease and works his progressions brilliantly.
There are very few flaws, if any, in Young’s game. Considering this was just Year 1 of him as the starter, and he became the first Alabama quarterback to win the Heisman, the sky is truly the limit for No. 9.
C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
With every bit of arm talent as his predecessors at Ohio State, Stroud is second fiddle to no Buckeye. He handled himself brilliantly in Year 1 as a starter in Columbus, rallying from an early-season loss. Stroud found the pace of the game early on after the battle with Oregon and rallied off multiple contests with at least 5 touchdown passes.
Stroud had some inconsistency with his accuracy early in the season (missing high), but some of his anticipatory throws after OSU’s Week 4 bye were the best in college football. He squeezes the ball into tight windows with ease. Stroud is a tremendous athlete with great pocket maneuverability to boot.
He’ll continually battle it out with Young for the top quarterback in college football. They’ll also battle it out for the Heisman Trophy in 2022 and ultimately the right to have their name called first in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Tier 2: Early first-round discussion
It’s a good time to need a quarterback as the 2023 NFL Draft quarterback prospects are plentiful. This next tier is the groups of individuals who have traits to possibly land inside the first round.
Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
Seeking atonement, Spencer Rattler has jettisoned Norman, Oklahoma, for Columbia, South Carolina. He’s traded a defensive-minded head coach with the Sooners for the offensive-minded Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks. Considering the work Beamer did this past season with the cast of characters he had at quarterback, Rattler’s presence had to be welcomed with open arms.
Rattler has every bit of an elite arm and athleticism. However, his inability to find his receivers in Oklahoma’s wide-open offense in 2021 got him benched. He struggled to find receivers by reading his progressions. Rattler locked on to targets and forced throws far too often. He looked lost at times with the Sooners this past season.
After entering the year as the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Rattler has a lot left to prove next fall. If he does prove that he has improved his intangibles, he vaults right back into the top quarterback discussion and likely gets a seat in New York City for the Heisman Trophy presentation.
Jake Haener, Fresno State
No top quarterback discussion will be complete without Jake Haener. The fierce signal-caller out west has an incredible arm and terrific moxie in the pocket. Haener can make all the throws and beautifully layers passes over defenders against all coverages. He uses his great arm strength to fit throws into tight windows and throw his receivers open at every level.
Haener may trust his arm a bit too much at times and try to squeeze throws into windows that aren’t there, but in time, he should understand coverages more and more. After throwing for over 6,000 yards the past two seasons, he returns as one of the most productive quarterbacks in the country.
Showcasing growth in understanding situational football and when to pull the trigger will be helpful for his NFL prognosis. Still, Haener’s arm is a rare blend of power and torque, and he layers just enough smoothness to his throws. He’s special.
Jaren Hall, BYU
In no way am I comparing Jaren Hall to Zach Wilson. But there is no world that I cannot see the similarities. They’re different quarterbacks, playing in the same system, with similar success. In fact, BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said that Hall is the quarterback who “gave BYU the most similar offense” to the one that Wilson ran in 2020.
With a zippy arm and even better hips, Hall’s baseball background has gone a long way toward him delivering fastballs on Saturdays. Hall is a tremendous athlete and started to understand how to navigate the pocket with ease as the season went on for the Cougars. Finding his receivers with accurate passes is no issue, but proving he can keep safeties at bay with his eyes and hips will go a long way at him vaulting into the upper echelon of 2023 NFL Draft quarterback prospects.
If Hall does that, dare I say he’s a first-round pick? Okay, fine, maybe he is a bit more like Wilson than I thought.
Tier 3: Elite talents with something to prove
The next tier of quarterbacks all have elite traits. However, they each have something to prove.
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
After leading the nation in completion percentage and yards per pass attempt in the regular season, Grayson McCall is far from a system quarterback. He possesses ample arm strength and athleticism to make an impact in the NFL.
Yet, a return to college football in 2022 graces Coastal Carolina and the Sun Belt with one more season of him and his mullet dominating on Saturdays.
To encroach on the top tier of QB prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft, McCall needs to work on a few things. Finding all levels of the field by going through his progressions is one of them. If McCall can add a level of “NFL Throws” to his arsenal by finding his receivers downfield, he’ll check off nearly every box.
No matter what he does in 2022, though, McCall is the best quarterback in the Carolinas entering the year.
Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
Proving that he can do it for more than one quarter will be crucial for Hendon Hooker in 2022. He already is the nation’s top first-quarter quarterback after dominating the opening frame after he took over in Knoxville. Still, he’s an accurate thrower of the football with enough touch to find his receivers across a bevy of routes. Hooker has plenty of strength to drive the football through zone windows as well.
He’s an elite athlete as well, totaling nearly 2,000 rushing yards in his career that spans four seasons — three at Virginia Tech and one at Tennessee. Proving that he can maintain vision of his receivers while maneuvering the pocket is the next step in his growth. If that takes place in 2022, expect Hooker to shift up a tier.
Will Levis, Kentucky
With a rocket for a right arm, Will Levis proved in 2021 that he’s got plenty of arm talent to make a splash in the NFL. He trailed off midway through the season as the speed of SEC play seemed too much. But the Kentucky QB more than rallied with an incredible stretch to close the year. He moves well in the pocket and can spot throws to every level.
Levis will be out to prove that his six games of elite-level quarterbacking are more of the standard as opposed to the other sloppy performances he produced. We need to see fewer outings against Chattanooga, Florida, and Mississippi State and more against Tennessee, LSU, and Vanderbilt from 2021.
DJ Uiagalelei, Clemson
There is absolutely no denying the fact that DJ Uiagalelei has elite arm talent. He has it in spades, to be precise. But there’s also no denying the fact that DJU struggled with consistency, accuracy, poise, pocket presence, and a handful of other intangibles necessary to be an NFL signal-caller.
Uiagalalei has spectacular traits and poor outings. It’s a rare anomaly that still breeds hope. Can he revive his career in Clemson this coming season? Or will he Spencer Rattler himself to another school in the near future, giving way to an incredibly-gifted five-star true freshman QB in Cade Klubnik?
The decision is ultimately up to Uiagalalei. It comes down to how he performs on the field, handles himself in the spring, and leads the program.
Tier 4: Need to prove that injuries are behind them
At one point, each of these 2023 NFL Draft quarterback prospects had aspirations for the 2022 NFL Draft. Injuries derailed them in 2021, and now they shift focus on proving they still warrant a draft pick.
Phil Jurkovec, Boston College
A wrist injury sidelined Phil Jurkovec after just one drive of Boston College’s Week 2 matchup against UMass. He returned in Week 10 and started the team’s final four games of the season. Jurkovec looked rusty at times during his return, but he more than has the tools to be a factor in this 2023 NFL Draft. If he can return to the form that saw him throw 15 touchdowns against just 3 interceptions in 2020, or even his 2021 Week 1 performance of 303 yards and 3 TDs, Jurkovec vaults back into the conversation.
He is on pace to set or break more Boston College records in 2022. While not setting all-time career marks, he’s quickly vaulting up the leaderboard in terms of speed to set records. He’s already passed Matt Ryan for the fastest to reach multiple 300-yard game plateaus. Anytime you’re drawing comparisons to either Matt Ryan or Ben Roethlisberger (as he does with his size), you’re doing something right.
Kedon Slovis, Pittsburgh
Needing a change of scenery, Kedon Slovis heads east to Pittsburgh. After losing his starting spot to Jaxson Dart following a leg injury, Slovis has transferred to the vacated spot left by Kenny Pickett. With ample arm strength and terrific in-structure play, Slovis was a gem of an Air Raid quarterback when firing on all cylinders.
He’s thrown for over 7,500 yards in three seasons, and that’s special considering he started just nine games in 2021 and only six in 2020. Proving his ability in a more pro-style system is as important as his ability to showcase the leg injury is behind him. Like the others in this group, if he does, Slovis absolutely jumps back into the draft conversation.
Dillon Gabriel, UCLA
The nation’s top deep-ball thrower outside of the numbers has gone halfway home. Halfway home for Dillon Gabriel is from Orlando to Los Angeles, halfway back to Hawai’i. A long distance to travel, sure, but in the UCLA system, Gabriel will be able to demonstrate the ability that he showcased in 2019 and 2020. Despite just three starts in 2021, Gabriel has over 8,000 passing yards and is as dynamic of a college football player as there is.
The big-armed lefty will have to prove he can still throw the ball with the velocity we came to know and love after suffering a broken collarbone in Week 3 against Louisville. Spreading the field and dropping “Dillon Dimes” will be fun to watch if he’s healthy enough to do so in 2022.
Other 2023 NFL Draft quarterback prospects to know
With the top tiers sorted, here are names you may know and need to know. Not only are these players solid college football QBs, but they’re also athletes that could soar up draft boards next season.
2023 NFL Draft QB names to know
Some gaudy statistical outputs, perhaps the best middle-of-the-field thrower, and raw upside litter this group of quarterback prospects to know for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Grant Wells, Marshall
With some of the top middle-of-the-field throws over the past two seasons, Grant Wells has NFL talent just waiting to be harnessed. He’s extremely intelligent and throws with great anticipation. In-breaking routes are his specialty. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean he can hit throws breaking away from him and towards the sidelines.
Wells is a great athlete and can buy plenty of time in the pocket if necessary. He’s had a great supporting cast, and the nation’s top freshman running back from 2021 (Rasheen Ali) returns with him in 2022. Wells will have to find a new top target after Xavier Gaines leaves for the NFL, but our money is on Wells doing just that.
Anthony Richardson, Florida
Perhaps the most athletic player whenever he steps on the field, Anthony Richardson has a rare skill set. Some of his throws after he’s broken contain are the best in the country. He also happens to be the fastest person on the field about 99% of the time. Richardson can vault himself into the NFL Draft conversation by proving down-to-down consistency inside of Billy Napier’s offense in 2022.
The heavy-run, outside-zone offensive scheme that Napier will likely employ should open up plenty of passing lanes for Richardson next fall. Inside those lanes will be a chance to showcase an NFL arm as well as that athleticism with the ball in his hands. It’s a match made in college football heaven. It may also be one that gets Richardson some favorable opportunities to showcase all he needs to get into the draft conversation.
Jayden Daniels, Arizona State
With a bevy of elite skills to his credit, Jayden Daniels somehow makes his slight frame work to his advantage. He’s a great thrower to the deep portion of the field, spotting his receivers streaking down the field and zipping it to them. But his accuracy to the other levels of the field takes a sharp decline at times.
Daniels needs to work through his progressions and find his open receivers in space on a consistent basis to be considered an NFL passer. As he hones in on that, he can continue to rely on his arm strength and athleticism. After all, that hasn’t been a bad combination to lean on so far through his career.
Tanner McKee, Stanford
Amid lofty expectations for Tanner McKee, the Stanford Cardinal had an utterly disappointing 2021 season. McKee has prototypical size and the arm to match his 6’6″, 228-pound frame. But he rarely trusts his arm to make the throws necessary to showcase his arm talent. He only averaged 9.0 or more yards per attempt in two games a season ago. Moreover, it seemed like McKee really stopped testing the waters downfield as the season wore on.
The Stanford QB has arm talent for days, but the program’s pro-style system rarely executed with him at the helm. The return of WR Brycen Tremayne in 2022 may pay dividends for McKee as he has a legitimate deep threat back in the lineup. If not, backup QB Ari Patu will be in these discussions in the near future.
Hank Bachmeier, Boise State
Standing tall in the face of pressure more often than not, Hank Bachmeier may have the country’s most fearless tape in 2021. With his offensive line taking a decline this past season, Bachmeier showcased an ability we previously hadn’t seen: an aptitude to quickly diagnose defenses and route combinations. He was a quick decision-maker in 2021, mainly because he had to be. But at times, it worked to his advantage.
He threw for 3,000 yards for the first time in his career, nearly doubling his previous career worth of touchdowns as well. Bachmeier has a ton of tools and is no stranger at targeting balls downfield. The loss of Khalil Shakir will hurt in 2022. But if Bachmeier can showcase the ability to find a new preferred target, his stock will rise.
Bo Nix, Oregon
Despite his Auburn legacy, Bo Nix is headed west for Eugene, Oregon. The former Tigers signal-caller has a lot to prove in 2022. He’s always been a great athlete, but the pocket presence has never really matched up with the arm talent for Nix. The Oregon system under new head coach Dan Lanning and new offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham may pit to Nix’s strengths in 2022. Yet, those strengths are on the ground, with his legs.
Nix has a long way to go to becoming a viable 2023 NFL Draft quarterback prospect. If he can showcase an NFL arm and prove that he’s capable of stable play, he could creep into the discussion. His special plays are already there — it’s the boneheaded mistakes and costly turnovers that have drowned Nix’s highlight-reel moments.
More 2023 NFL Draft QB names to know
We continue the list of 2023 NFL Draft quarterback prospects to know.
Brennan Armstrong, Virginia
Anytime you throw for nearly 4,500 passing yards, you’ll garner plenty of attention. Brennan Armstrong did just that and, impressively enough, cut down on the turnovers compared to last season in the process. Despite nearly doubling his dropbacks and pass attempts, Armstrong threw one fewer interception in 2021 than he did in 2022. He catapulted himself into the nation’s top quarterback discussion and firmly into the 2023 NFL Draft discussion.
However, Armstrong struggled with accuracy at times and seemed too reliant upon the highlight-reel play. Making those NFL throws to the boundary and increasing down-to-down accuracy will go a long way. He has the intermediate and deep throws down — it’s gaining confidence in his arm on critical downs and distances that will be crucial to his next step.
Devin Leary, NC State
Devin Leary put forth perhaps the quietest 3,400-yard, 35-touchdown quarterback performance in some time. He was lights out in 2021. Leary hit every level of the field brilliantly and threw just 5 interceptions compared to those 35 touchdowns.
He was accurate, disciplined, and incredibly consistent. With few holes in his game, Leary can firmly place himself in the draftable conversation with another year of the same level of play. Increasing his reads across the middle of the field would only make him that much better.
Tanner Mordecai, SMU
With an unshakeable Baker Mayfield quality to him, Tanner Mordecai proved once and for all in 2021 why he was once a highly sought-after quarterback recruit. He tossed 39 touchdown passes and over 3,600 passing yards. Mordecai may, at times, flee the pocket too quickly, but it hardly becomes a predicament as he’s a tremendous athlete with the ball in his hands.
For the next level, however, finding his passing lanes from within the confines of the pocket will be crucial. Mordecai must also prove that this past season wasn’t just a product of flash-in-the-pan success, or due to a talented receiving corps. Doing that will certainly keep his name at the tips of our tongues.
Will Rogers, Mississippi State
What else can you say about one of the more accurate quarterback performances in recent history? Will Rogers was dominant inside of the QB-friendly Air Raid offense under Mike Leach. Aside from a relatively putrid bowl game performance, Rogers was accurate and sharp with his decisions, routinely finding his second, third, or even fourth receivers with ease.
Like all Air Raid quarterbacks, however, Rogers will have to showcase the ability to find receivers on the end of NFL throws. The Air Raid doesn’t typically offer up those situations, but if Bailey Zappe can transcend the offensive scheme, Rogers certainly could do so in 2022.
Clayton Tune, Houston
A big-armed magician with the football, Clayton Tune looks at times like a spry Ben Roethlisberger. With an impressive background and extensive body of work, Tune has seen it all. He returns to college football in 2022 with the chance to eclipse 10,000 career passing yards.
Tune won’t quite wow you with his athleticism, but he certainly has plenty of arm strength and enough escapability to find time in the pocket or move the sticks with his legs. He took the next step in 2021 and could emerge as a surefire draft pick with another year of consistent success.
Don’t forget about these quarterbacks
Last but not least, the final tier of potential 2023 NFL Draft quarterback prospects. This group showed flashes of brilliance either with their arm talent or their athleticism.
Tyler Van Dyke, Miami (FL)
Still considered a freshman in 2021, Tyler Van Dyke entered the season as a potential name to know in the future for the Hurricanes. Playing behind D’Eriq King, it wasn’t until an injury to King that the world got introduced to Van Dyke. And yet, he still had to prove himself against fellow highly-recruited quarterback Jake Garcia.
It was a performance against Central Connecticut State that gave us a glimpse of his ability. He finished just a half’s worth of work with 10-of-11 passing for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns. In his eight starts thereafter, Van Dyke threw for a total of 22 touchdowns and nearly 3,000 yards. An impressive career debut as ever, especially considering we weren’t supposed to see Van Dyke in a full-time role until 2022.
Gunnar Watson, Troy
As tough as they come, Gunnar Watson has battled through below-average offensive line play during his time at Troy. With prototypical size at 6’3″, 214 pounds, Watson stands tall in the pocket and delivers accurate passes with ample arm strength. He had some bad interception luck in 2021 but still made multiple impressive throws throughout the season. Under new head coach Jon Sumrall, little is known about what the Trojans’ offense will look like, so the expectations for Watson may be tempered just a bit to start in 2022.
Adrian Martinez, Kansas State
A change of scenery may be just what Adrian Martinez needs to revitalize his career. Or, excuse me, vitalize his career. Despite entering what feels like the past four seasons at Nebraska with Heisman hopes, Martinez has never been able to live up to the hype. He’s wildly inconsistent as a passer but still presents challenges for defenses to stop at times.
What it all boils down to is if Martinez can make a developmental step forward at Kansas State with his aerial assault. If he can do that, he’s a legitimate athlete with a future in the NFL. Otherwise, he’s pigeon-holed himself into a Taysom Hill role at the next level.
Gavin Hardison, UTEP
Get to know the name and get to know the head of hair that Gavin Hardison presents on the field on Saturdays. After a terrific 2021 season that saw him throw for 3,227 yards and 18 touchdowns, Hardison enters the fold due to his prototypical traits. He’s a big man at 6’3″, 205 pounds, but somehow plays bigger.
He loses his top threat in Jacob Cowing at receiver, so his 2022 season will be all about distribution. In doing so, we’ll see if Hardison can make the next step in his development by finding his receivers through his progressions and taking what the defense presents.
Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
An intriguing prospect not just because of his name but because of his potential. Taulia Tagovailoa, the younger brother of Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, has had his ups and downs at Maryland. He started the 2021 season on fire, leading some to believe he could declare for the 2022 NFL Draft. But after a rough stretch against stout defenses, Tagovailoa has ultimately decided to return to school and hone his craft.
If his bowl game performance against Virginia Tech is any indication, we’re seeing the next Tagovailoa brother who will ultimately make the NFL leap. He’ll have to improve his consistency and his ability to hit every level of the field consistently, but Taulia’s pocket presence and ability to move the pocket are innate. He’s a natural quarterback with great mobility who always looks downfield. Consistency will be key for Tagovailoa in 2022.
Quarterbacks who need a home
The last tier to discuss is talking raw potential as each of them remains in the transfer portal ahead of the 2022 season.
Zach Gibson, Transfer Portal
The former Zips signal-caller was lights out for Akron in 2021. Zach Gibson finished the season with 10 TDs and 0 INTs. He barely attempted 150 passes but still looked as impressive as he has in his career. Gibson has been “Crystal Balled” to Georgia Tech by 247Sports, which is an interesting fit given Jeff Sims is already on the roster. If he lands in a place where he can play right away, it would be imperative for Gibson to build off an impressive 2021 campaign.
Casey Thompson, Transfer Portal
Once he lands somewhere, Casey Thompson immediately slides into one of the aforementioned tiers. He’s got an impressive arm and a larger-than-life persona at times. Thompson struggled with ball placement, leaving meat left on the bone. Regardless, he’s got a bevy of intriguing traits to build on. Nebraska is the rumored next step in his journey. It could be an interesting fit for Thompson, who would certainly need to utilize his arm to get the ball to the perimeter in Scott Frost’s offense.
Braxton Burmeister, Transfer Portal
If their performance in their bowl game was any indication of how much Braxton Burmeister meant to Virginia Tech, it makes his evaluation that much better. Burmeister clearly kept the Hokies intact this past season. He threw for 1,960 yards and 14 touchdowns, rarely taking over the action, but his arm is certainly not to blame. He’ll have to answer for a third transfer now before he makes any leap to the next level. But he certainly has a skill set that is worthy of a look in the NFL.
Cam Mellor is the Senior Director of the College Football/NFL Draft vertical for Pro Football Network. He is also the co-host of Between the Hashes, a college football and NFL draft podcast. You can find his writing here. Follow him on Twitter @CamMellor
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71025789/usa_today_17242510.0.jpg)
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Comment